Methods for cannabis waste disposal

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for rendering cannabis-related waste materials are provided. The method may include inserting a plurality of cannabis-related waste materials into, for example, a mobile rendering vehicle. The method may further include physically altering the cannabis-related waste materials such that the cannabis-related waste materials are unrecognizable and unusable. The insertion of the cannabis-related waste materials into the mobile rendering vehicle may be recorded and/or the physical alteration (e.g., pulverization) of the cannabis-related waste materials may be recorded via one or more cameras disposed on the mobile rendering vehicle to verify proper insertion and/or alteration of the cannabis-related waste materials.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/075,646, filed Oct. 20, 2020, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/198,747, filed Nov. 21, 2018, now U.S.Pat. No. 10,876,061, which claims the benefit of priority of U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/590,204, filed Nov. 22, 2017, theentire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF USE

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for renderingcannabis-related waste materials, e.g., using a mobile renderingvehicle.

BACKGROUND

The cannabis industry, e.g., medical and recreational, encompasses avariety of business such as grow operations, product manufacturers,distributors, dispensaries, and testing laboratories. As the cannabisindustry continues to grow, the steps of harvesting and processingcannabis, e.g., marijuana, for extraction, and infusion of products(which include, but are not limited to: edibles, e.g., cookie, brownie,candy, chocolate, gummy, beverage, soda, dessert, caramel, mint, pill,hot sauce, dried fruit, olive oil, and cooking oil; cannabisextract/concentrate; tincture/sublingual strips; topical, e.g., balm,salve, lotion, oil, and bath bomb; joints/blunts/cigarettes; vaporizers,and cannabis applicators) generate large amounts of by-products andwaste. Cannabis is a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance, and therefore mustadhere to the Federal Controlled Substances Act.

Accordingly, cannabis-related waste materials including cannabis waste(i.e. cannabis plant material), cannabis-infused products, mixedpackaging, manufacturing byproducts, grow medium, contaminateddisposables, and contaminated cannabis waste must be disposed of incompliance with applicable state laws and regulations. Specifically,cannabis waste may still contain regulated substances, e.g.,tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical responsible for the medicaleffects of cannabis, and thus must be disposed of in compliance withapplicable state laws and regulations. Cannabis waste includes cannabisplant material/biomass such as roots, stalks, stems, leaves, and flowersof the cannabis plant. Cannabis-related wastes materials includescannabis-infused products with mixed packaging, e.g., glass, plastic,fiber, and metal, manufacturing byproducts, e.g., plant fats, waxes,lipids, and terpenes, non-compostable grow mediums such as rock-wool,contaminated disposables, e.g., personal protective equipment such asnitrile/rubber gloves, batteries, cellulose papers, filters, containers,utensils, and lab ware, and contaminated cannabis waste, e.g., cannabisplant material/biomass, e.g., roots, stalks, stems, leaves, and flowersof the cannabis plant, having high levels of contaminants, e.g.,pesticides, fertilizers, solvents (alcohols-based, hydrocarbon-based),chemicals, reactants, and heavy metals.

Currently, 33 states have legalized medical cannabis. Although theFederal Controlled Substances Act controls the substance, individualstates are responsible for handling the cultivation, manufacturing,storage, and disposal of cannabis waste. For example, California statelaw requires that medical and recreational cannabis waste must be madeunusable and unrecognizable prior to leaving the licensed premises.Similarly, Illinois state law requires dispensaries to destroy cannabiswaste in order to render it unusable, stating an “allowable method torender cannabis waste unusable is by grinding and incorporating thecannabis waste with other ground materials so the resulting mixture isat least 50% non-cannabis waste by volume,” and Washington state lawrecites “[t]he allowable method to render marijuana plant waste unusableis by grinding and incorporating the marijuana plant waste with otherground materials so the resulting mixture is at least fifty percentnonmarijuana waste by volume.” As the cannabis industry highly impactsour environment, these cannabis disposal laws are essential for theprotection of public health and the environment.

Typically, cannabis waste is mixed with either compostable waste ornon-compostable waste to render it unusable and unrecognizable inaccordance with state laws and regulations. Suggested compostable wastecurrently used includes food waste, green waste, green waste, andvegetable based grease and oils, and suggested non-compostable wastecurrently used includes paper waste, cardboard waste, plastic waste, andsoil. However, these compostable and non-compostable wastes may becostly, and may not effectively mix with the grinded cannabis waste suchthat the result is deemed unusable and unrecognizable.

In addition, cannabis-related wastes materials must also be disposed ofaccording to state and local laws and regulations, and typically aredisposed of in an unsustainable manner.

In view of the foregoing drawbacks of previously known systems andmethods, there exists a need for more efficient and cost-effectivesystems and methods for the rendering and disposal of cannabis-relatedwaste materials including cannabis plant material, as well as systemsand methods for ensuring proper rendering of the cannabis-related wastematerials in compliance with local regulations.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure overcomes the drawbacks of previously-knownsystems and methods by providing efficient and cost-effective systemsand methods for rendering cannabis-related waste materials includingcannabis plant material for disposal in accordance with state laws andregulations. For example, a method for rendering cannabis-related waste,e.g., cannabis plant material, cannabis-infused products, mixedpackaging, manufacturing byproducts, grow medium, or contaminateddisposables, may include obtaining a plurality of cannabis-related wastematerials; and physically altering the plurality of cannabis-relatedwaste materials such that the physically altered cannabis-related wasteis unrecognizable and unusable.

The method further may include removing liquid from the physicallyaltered cannabis-related waste. In addition, the method may includeheating the physically altered cannabis-related waste to at least 150degrees Fahrenheit for an amount of time sufficient to sterilize anddenature the physically altered cannabis-related waste. Accordingly, theheated physically altered cannabis-related waste may be cooled to form arefuse-derived fuel material. The method further may include sterilizingthe physically altered cannabis-related waste to remove any pathogensand biohazards from the physically altered cannabis-related waste. Inaddition, the method may include denaturing the physically alteredcannabis-related waste to break down cannabinoids in the physicallyaltered cannabis-related waste. In one embodiment, physically alteringthe plurality of cannabis-related waste materials may include saturatingthe plurality of cannabis-related waste materials with a liquidsolution, e.g., a dye, such that the saturated cannabis-related waste isunrecognizable and unusable.

In some embodiments, obtaining the plurality of cannabis-related wastematerials includes receiving the plurality of cannabis-related wastematerials at a mobile rendering vehicle. Accordingly, physicallyaltering the plurality of cannabis-related waste materials may includeshredding the plurality of cannabis-related waste materials using ashredder within the mobile rendering vehicle. The shredder may include asynthetic material that prevents corrosion. The method further mayinclude storing the shredded cannabis-related waste within a payloadcompartment of the mobile rendering vehicle. In addition, the method mayinclude removing liquid from the shredded cannabis-related waste. Themethod further may include capturing image data using one or morecameras positioned on the mobile rendering vehicle to verify receipt andphysical alteration of the plurality of cannabis-related wastematerials. Additionally, the image data may be transmitted to acloud-based server.

Moreover, physically altering the plurality of cannabis-related wastematerials such that the plurality of cannabis-related waste materials isunrecognizable and unusable may include physically altering theplurality of cannabis-related waste materials while the mobile renderingvehicle is onsite at a licensed premise. In addition, the method mayinclude transporting the physically altered cannabis-related waste viathe mobile rendering vehicle offsite to another location different fromthe licensed premise for disposal. The method further may includeweighing the plurality of cannabis-related waste materials prior tophysically altering the plurality of cannabis-related waste materials,and transmitting data indicative of the weight of the plurality ofcannabis-related waste materials to a receiver.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, the systemfor rendering cannabis-related waste may include a mobile renderingvehicle having an infeed hopper for receiving a blend of a plurality ofcannabis-related waste materials, a shredder for pulverizing the blendsuch that the blend is unrecognizable and unusable, and a plurality ofcameras disposed on the mobile rendering vehicle for capturing imagedata to verify proper receipt and pulverization of the blend. Theplurality of cannabis-related waste materials may include at least oneof cannabis plant material, cannabis-infused products, mixed packaging,manufacturing byproducts, grow medium, or contaminated disposables. Oneof the plurality of cameras may be disposed within a vicinity of theshredder for capturing image data of the pulverization of the blend toverify proper pulverization of the blend. The plurality of cameras maytransmit the image data to a cloud-based server, e.g., for videosharing.

The mobile rendering vehicle further may include a control panel havinga graphical user interface for receiving user input to control one ormore parameters, e.g., infeed hopper speed, shredder speed, orcannabis-related waste materials type, of the mobile rendering vehicle.In addition, the mobile rendering vehicle may include a lift arm forinserting the blend into the infeed hopper. For example, the lift armmay engage with a receptacle holding the blend. Additionally, the liftarm may be operatively coupled to a scale for measuring a weight of theblend. The scale may transmit data indicative of the measured weight toa receiver. Accordingly, one of the plurality of cameras may be disposedon the lift arm for capturing image data of the insertion of the blendinto the infeed hopper to verify proper receipt of the blend.

The mobile rendering vehicle further may include at least one of acompactor plate or a bridge-breaker for guiding the blend toward theshredder. The shredder may include a synthetic material for preventingcorrosion. In addition, the mobile rendering vehicle further may includea payload compartment sized and shaped to receive the pulverized blend.The mobile rendering vehicle may include an auger for guiding thepulverized blend into the payload compartment. Moreover, the mobilerendering vehicle may include a moveable floor for moving the pulverizedblend from the payload compartment to outside of the mobile renderingvehicle. Accordingly, one of the plurality of cameras may be disposed inthe payload compartment for capturing image data of the pulverized blendwithin the payload compartment to verify proper pulverization of theblend. The mobile rendering vehicle further may include a liquid storagecompartment sized and shaped to store liquid received from the shredder.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a methodfor rendering cannabis-related waste is provided. The method may includeinserting a blend having a plurality of cannabis-related waste materialsinto a mobile rendering vehicle; pulverizing the blend such that theblend is unrecognizable and unusable; and recording the insertion of theblend into the mobile rendering vehicle and the pulverization of theblend to verify proper insertion and pulverization of the blend. Forexample, the blend may be pulverized while the mobile rendering vehicleis onsite at a licensed premise. Accordingly, the method further mayinclude transporting the pulverized blend via the mobile renderingvehicle offsite to another location different from the licensed premisefor disposal. The method further may include weighing the blend prior topulverizing the blend; and transmitting data indicative of the weight ofthe blend to a receiver, e.g., to be integrated with shipping documents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of an exemplary method forrendering cannabis waste in accordance with the principles of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of an exemplary method forrendering cannabis-related waste in accordance with the principles ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic of a mobile rendering vehicle for renderingcannabis-related waste constructed in accordance with the principles ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of an exemplary method forrendering cannabis-related waste via a mobile rendering vehicle.

FIGS. 5A to 5F illustrates various steps of an exemplary method forrendering cannabis-related waste via a mobile rendering vehicle.

FIG. 6 illustrates a sample Certificate of Destruction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Cannabis-related waste materials including cannabis waste (i.e. cannabisplant material), cannabis-infused products, mixed packaging,manufacturing byproducts, grow medium, contaminated disposables, andcontaminated cannabis waste, must be disposed of in compliance with thegoverning state laws and regulations, e.g., by rendering it unusable andunrecognizable, for example, as described in U.S. Patent App. Pub. No.2019/0153345 to Lee, the entire contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference. By blending grinded cannabis plant material with atleast equal parts of grinded non-cannabis material, wherein at least aportion of the non-cannabis material includes wood shavings, theresulting pre-compost blend is unusable and unrecognizable. Inaccordance with the principles of the present disclosure, thepre-compost blend resulting from the methods described herein may berevitalized into rich compost, e.g., via the Bokashi method or in-vesseldigestion.

In addition, cannabis-related waste materials may be transformed intorefuse-derived fuel by pulverizing, heating, sterilizing, denaturing,and cooling the cannabis-related waste materials. In accordance with theprinciples of the present disclosure, the refuse-derived fuel may bepelletized, compressed, or vacuum-packed-and-sealed, to be used as arenewable energy source.

Referring to FIG. 1, exemplary method 100 for rendering cannabiswaste-related materials, including cannabis waste is described. At step102, cannabis waste-related material, e.g., cannabis waste, is obtained.Cannabis waste may include cannabis plant material such as roots,stalks, flower, leaves, and stems of the cannabis plant. Cannabis isconsidered a “wet green” material, high in Nitrogen.

At step 104, the cannabis waste-related material may be physicallyaltered such as by, for example, pulverizing, compacting, crushing,grinding, shredding, chipping, mixing, blending, burning (combustion),incinerating, carbonizing, gasifying, stabilizing, vitrifying,denaturing, dissolving, and/or saturating/spraying the cannabis wastematerial. As should be understood, these examples of physical alterationare not mutually exclusive. For example, crushing may include grinding,mixing, and/or blending, etc. In some embodiments, the cannabis wastematerial may be grinded down, e.g., via a commercial wood chipper orshredder if the cannabis waste material includes hard/rigid cannabisplant material, or a commercial grinder if the cannabis waste materialincludes soft/malleable cannabis plant material, to a uniform,homogenous consistency. Hard/rigid cannabis plant materials includestalks, stems, sticks, branches, etc., and soft/malleable cannabis plantmaterials include flowers, buds, leaves, trimmings, etc. The particlesof the grinded cannabis waste material may have sizes ranging from dustto a grain of rice. At this stage, the cannabis waste-related materialmay be sufficiently rendered unusable and unrecognizable.

In addition, the grinded cannabis waste material may be wetted withapproximately 1 to 5 gallons of liquid, e.g., water, per approximately55 gallons of the grinded cannabis waste material, e.g., 1.8%-9.1%water/material ratio, to reduce or prevent dust release. The resultinggrinded cannabis waste material/liquid mixture is merely damp, e.g., nota sludge or slurry, and is able to retain its water composition in asolid form. The liquid in the mixture also reduces dust/release ofairborne contaminants, provides odor control, as well as aids in themixing process.

Additionally or alternatively, the cannabis waste-related material maybe physically altered via chemical alteration, e.g., saturating thecannabis waste-related material with a liquid solution. For example, thecannabis waste-related material may be saturated/sprayed with a dye,pigment, acid wash, corrosive, caustic, neutralizer, denaturant,solvent, sanitizer, paint, oil, and/or water to render the cannabiswaste-related material unusable and unrecognizable.

Optionally, at step 106, non-cannabis material, e.g., an organiccompostable material, may be obtained. At least a portion of thenon-cannabis material includes wood material, e.g., wood shavings.Different types of wood shavings include wood chips, saw dust, bark,branches, limbs, trunks, stumps, heartwood, sapwood, etc. Wood shavingsare a natural, organic material this is easily wetted and retainsmoisture well. Wood shavings are already broken down, making them easierto grind down further and to mix with the cannabis waste material. Inaddition, wood shavings provide dark pigments which is similar to thatof aged cannabis waste materials, which makes the cannabis wastematerial even more unrecognizable upon blending. Wood shavings are alsolight-weight, inexpensive, and readily available. Wood shavings areconsidered a “dry brown” material, high in Carbon. In addition to, oralternatively, the non-cannabis material may include at least one ofcorn starch, vegetable starch, polymeric carbohydrate, naturaladhesives, dextrin, natural resins, casein (i.e., milk protein),hide-based animal glues, bioadhesives, flour and water (heated), albumen(blood protein), natural wood lignin, organic polymers, or gelatin.

At least another portion of the non-cannabis material may include atleast one of yard debris, food waste, coffee grounds, tea leaves,leaves, flowers, seeds, grass, animal feces/manure, soil, vegetables,fruits, pericarp (meat around the seed of a fruit), caryopsis (cerealgrain fruit, e.g., wheat, barley, rice), marine mollusk shells, marinealgae, hair, insect parts, natural and synthetic fibers, etc.

Optionally, at step 108, the non-cannabis material is grinded down,e.g., via a wood chipper/shredder. The particles of the grindednon-cannabis material may have sizes ranging from dust to a grain ofrice. In one embodiment, the same grinder/shredder used to grind downthe cannabis waste material may be used to grind down non-cannabismaterial. In addition, the cannabis waste material and non-cannabismaterial may be grinded down simultaneously, e.g., using the samegrinder/shredder at the same time. For example, the cannabis wastematerial and non-cannabis material may be grinded down using anindustrial multi-purpose grinder provided by JWC Environmental®. In thisembodiment, step 104 and step 108 may be performed simultaneously suchthat the cannabis waste material and non-cannabis material are grindeddown and blended simultaneously.

In addition, the grinded non-cannabis material may be wetted withapproximately 1 to 5 gallons of liquid, e.g., water, per approximately55 gallons of the grinded non-cannabis material, e.g., 1.8%-9.1%water/material ratio, to reduce or prevent dust release. The resultinggrinded non-cannabis material/liquid mixture is merely damp, e.g., not asludge or slurry, and is able to retain its water composition in a solidform.

Optionally, at step 110, the grinded cannabis waste material and thegrinded non-cannabis material are thoroughly blended, e.g., via acommercial soil mixer, such that the blended cannabis waste material andthe grinded non-cannabis material completely mixed as will be understoodby a person of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the grindedcannabis waste material may be thoroughly blended with at least equalparts of the grinded non-cannabis material in compliance with variousstate laws and regulations. The grinded cannabis waste material and thegrinded non-cannabis material may be thoroughly blended for a timeperiod of at least approximately two minutes, or until thoroughlyblended to produce an unusable and unrecognizable pre-compost blend. Aswill be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art, if step104 and step 108 are performed simultaneously such that the cannabiswaste material and non-cannabis material are grinded down and blendedsimultaneously, there is no need to perform step 110 as the grindedcannabis waste material and the grinded non-cannabis material willalready be thoroughly blended.

The pre-compost blend is “unrecognizable” in that the cannabis plantmaterial is rendered indistinguishable from any other plant material aswill be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. Thepre-compost blend is “unusable” in that the cannabis waste materialgenerated from cultivation, manufacturing, retail, testing lab, ordistribution has no further use or value in that particular process,such that is not attractive or desirable for use for, e.g., smoking,eating, manufacturing, packaging, etc. Additionally, unusable cannabiswaste material that has been altered in its physical and/or chemicalstate, has reduced or no medical and/or psychoactive properties comparedto those of unaltered cannabis product.

In addition, the pre-compost blend may be wetted with approximately 1 to5 gallons of liquid, e.g., water, per approximately 55 gallons of thepre-compost blend, e.g., 1.8%-9.1% water/material ratio, to reduce orprevent dust release. The resulting pre-compost blend/liquid mixture ismerely damp, e.g., not a sludge or slurry, and is able to retain itswater composition in a solid form. The pre-compost blend will also beginto break down more quickly if damp.

In addition, the pre-compost blend may be further rendered into compostvia, e.g., the Bokashi method or in-vessel digestion as will beunderstood by a person having ordinary skill in the art. The high Carboncontent of the wood material and the high Nitrogen content of thecannabis waste material results in a high quality pre-compost blend forcreating compost. Therefore, the pre-blend compost may be revitalizedinto compost, e.g., ready-to-use-soil.

As will be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art,other suitable mixers and grinders include cement mixers, soil mixers,soil batch mixers, conical mixers, paddle mixers, mortar mixers, drumand barrel mixers, grain mixers, compost screeners, rototillers,commercial food/culinary mixers, rotor bar mixers, dispersion mixers,soil grinders, feed grinders, grain grinders, commercial food/culinarygrinders, meat grinders, and wood grinder, etc.

Unlike cannabis plant material, not all cannabis-related waste materialsare compostable. Thus, referring now to FIG. 2, exemplary method 200 forrendering cannabis-related waste materials is described. At step 202, aplurality of cannabis-related waste materials is obtained, e.g.,collected from cannabis operators such as testing labs, distributors,dispensaries, microbusinesses, cannabis cultivators, nurseries,processors, and manufacturers of cannabis products. Cannabis-relatedwaste materials may include cannabis waste (i.e. cannabis plantmaterial), cannabis-infused products, mixed packaging, manufacturingbyproducts, grow medium, contaminated disposables, and contaminatedcannabis waste. For example, cannabis-infused products include: edibles,e.g., cookie, brownie, candy, chocolate, gummy, beverage, soda, dessert,caramel, mint, pill, hot sauce, dried fruit, olive oil, and cooking oil;cannabis extract/concentrate; tincture/sublingual strips; topical, e.g.,balm, salve, lotion, oil, and bath bomb; joints/blunts/cigarettes;vaporizers, and cannabis applicators. Mixed packaging includes glass,plastic, fiber, and metal. Manufacturing byproducts include plant fats,waxes, lipids, and terpenes. Non-compostable grow mediums includerock-wool. Contaminated disposables (i.e., disposable items contaminatedwith cannabis constituents such as cannabinoids) include personalprotective equipment such as nitrile/rubber gloves, cellulose papers,filters, containers, utensils, and lab ware. Contaminated cannabis wasteincludes cannabis plant material/biomass, e.g., roots, stalks, stems,leaves, and flowers of the cannabis plant, having high levels ofcontaminants, e.g., pesticides, fertilizers, solvents (alcohols-based,hydrocarbon-based), chemicals, reactants, and heavy metals, making thecannabis waste unsuitable for compost. The cannabis-infused products maybe removed from its packaging prior to processing.

At step 204, a blend of the plurality of cannabis-related wastematerials is prepared using a predetermined amount of each of thecannabis-related waste materials obtained. For example, the blend mayinclude, 20% cannabis plant material, 20% cannabis-infused products, 20%mixed packaging, 20% grow medium, 20% contaminated disposables. As willbe understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art, the amountof each of the plurality of cannabis-related waste materials obtainedmay be selected to control moisture content, liquid state (solid orliquid), or organic or inorganic content, to create a more balanced,efficient mixture for processing. Prior to preparing the blend, theplurality of cannabis-related waste materials obtained may be organizedbased on preselected attributes of each of the plurality ofcannabis-related waste materials, e.g., cannabis plant material,cannabis-infused products, mixed packaging, manufacturing byproducts,grow medium, contaminated disposables, and contaminated cannabis waste.

At step 206, the blend is physically altered, e.g., pulverized, suchthat the blend is unrecognizable and unusable. For example, the blendmay be loaded into a sealed chamber of a thermokinetic waste converterhaving a high-speed rotor designed to pulverize the blend. The blend maybe loaded into the thermokinetic waste converter either manually orautomatically depending on the size of the converter. Upon operation ofthe thermokinetic waste converter, the high-speed rotor and steel teethwithin the thermokinetic waste converter pulverizes the blend, e.g., tothe size of a grain of rice.

Optionally, at step 208, the pulverized blend is heated to at least 150degrees Fahrenheit, e.g., at least 200 or 300 degrees Fahrenheit.Specifically, the high-speed rotor of the thermokinetic waste converteris designed to convert kinetic energy to thermal energy to heat theblend via friction. Water in the form of hot steam may be introducedinto the sealed chamber of the thermokinetic waste converter to achievehigher temperatures, e.g., at least 300 degrees Fahrenheit. The blend isheld within the sealed chamber of the thermokinetic waste converter andheated for, e.g., up to 30 minutes, such that the high temperaturewithin the sealed chamber of the thermokinetic waste convertersterilizes and denatures the blend. For example, the high temperaturesterilizes the blend such that any pathogens and biohazards are removedfrom the blend. In addition, the high temperature denatures the blend bybreaking down cannabis constituents such as cannabinoids includingtetrahydrocannabinol in the blend. Due to the high temperatures withinthe sealed chamber of the thermokinetic waste converter during heating,liquid evaporated from the heated blend may be collected at step 210.For example, the liquid may be collecting into a separate holdingcontainer for later disposal/treatment. As will be understood by aperson having ordinary skill in the art, liquid evaporated from theheated blend may be collected during the heating step of 208.

Optionally, at step 212, the sterilized and denatured blend is cooled toa suitable temperature within the sealed chamber of the thermokineticwaste converter. Steps 206, 208, and 212 may all occur within the sealedchamber of the thermokinetic waste converter, thus avoiding having totransfer the blend during processing. The result of steps 206, 208, 210,and 212 is a refuse-derived fuel material greatly reduced in size,weight, water content, and overall environmental impact. Therefuse-derived fuel material is described as a fuzz or fluff, similar topet bedding, cotton, blown-in insulation, or spill absorbent. Theresulting refuse-derived fuel material is reduced in volume by up to80%, and in weight by up to 50%, yet retains its full calorific valuesuch that it may be used as a renewable energy source. For example,after the refuse-derived fuel material has cooled, it may be dischargedinto a separate holding cell, where it may then be pelletized,compressed into bricks or bales for easier storage, orvacuum-packed-and-sealed, depending on its future use, thereby furtherreducing its environmental impact size. The resulting product mayreplace fossil fuels in traditional power plants that produceelectricity, or may be used in cement kilns, gasification modules, orpyrolysis plants. Method 200 achieves recycling mandates and renders theplurality of cannabis-related waste materials into a renewable energysource in a clean and effective manner, beyond that which is required bystate regulations.

Referring now to FIG. 3, mobile rendering vehicle 300 for renderingcannabis-related waste materials, e.g., feedstock, is provided. Mobilerendering vehicle 300, e.g., an Automated Rendering Vehicle (ARV), is astate-of-the-art, mobile destruct truck, customized specifically to meetcannabis industry needs. Mobile rendering vehicle 300 may be equippedwith a high-powered, on-board shredder, and is capable of processing awide range of materials down to, e.g., a ¼-inch in size, or smaller.Mobile rendering vehicle 300 is both clean and efficient, andnon-intrusive and secure. Moreover, to meet and exceed State RegulatoryRequirements, e.g., Title 16 CCR, Division 42 “Bureau of CannabisControl (BCC),” and Title 17 CCR, Division 1 “Manufactured CannabisSafety Branch,” strategically positioned in-vehicle cameras may capturethe entire rendering process to ensure compliance with localregulations.

As shown in FIG. 3, mobile rendering vehicle 300 may include controlpanel 301, lift arm 302, infeed hopper 304, modifier 306, compactorplate and/or bridge-breaker 308, auger 310, payload compartment 312,liquid catch 314, liquid storage compartment 316, movable floor 318, anda plurality of cameras, e.g., cameras 320, 322, 324. Control panel 301may include a graphical user interface configured to receive user input,such that the user may start/stop operation of mobile rendering vehicle300, and/or adjust one or more parameters of mobile rendering vehicle300. For example, the user may adjust via control panel 301 infeedhopper speed and/or shredder speed. In addition, control panel 301 mayhave programmed parameter settings selectable based on thecannabis-related waste materials type. For example, the user may selecta specific operation mode based on whether the cannabis-related wastematerials includes plant material/light debris, dry edible goods,wet/tacky edible goods, hard material/bulky debris, etc. Accordingly,upon selection of the desired mode based on the cannabis-related wastematerials type, mobile rendering vehicle 300 will properly render thefeedstock, e.g., blend of cannabis-related waste materials,unrecognizable and unusable. Control panel 301 may be positioned onmobile rendering vehicle 300 in an easily accessible area, e.g., on anexterior side of mobile rendering vehicle 300, and may include a coverto protect control panel 301 when not in use. Additionally, controlpanel 301 may be actuated to process and print records of the renderingas proof of compliance.

Lift arm 302 may be positioned along an exterior side of mobilerendering vehicle 300 for hoisting the blend into infeed hopper 304. Theblend of cannabis-related waste materials may be contained within areceptacle bin, and lift arm 302 may releasably engage with thereceptacle to hoist the receptacle, e.g., via a chain driven lift, fromthe ground toward and into infeed hopper 304. For example, lift arm 302may have a plurality of grasping arms, e.g., hydraulic clamp, thattransition between an open and closed configuration, such that, in theclosed configuration, the receptacle is securely engaged with lift arm302. Moreover, lift arm 302 may be operatively coupled to an electronicscale for measuring the weight of the blend in the receptacle. The scalemay transmit, e.g., wirelessly via WiFi or Bluetooth technology, dataindicative of the weight of the blend to a receiver, e.g., for efficientintegration with shipping documents, as described in further detail withregarding to FIG. 6. In addition, camera 320 may be disposed on lift 302to capture image data of lift arm 302 hoisting the receptacle/feedstockinto infeed hopper 304 to ensure that the feedstock is properly insertedinto mobile rendering vehicle 300. Camera 320 may also capture imagedata of personnel operating control panel 301 to verify proper personnelpresence and use of control panel 301.

Infeed hopper 304 is sized and shaped to receive at least a portion ofthe receptacle hoisted by lift arm 302, such that the blend within thereceptacle may be received within the interior of mobile renderingvehicle 300, e.g., in a feedstock compartment containing modifier 306.For example, a railing used to by lift arm 302 to hoist the receptaclevertically along mobile rendering vehicle 300 may extend through infeedhopper 304 into the feedstock compartment. Moreover, infeed hopper 304may have a plurality of flexible covers that protect the feedstockcompartment from external elements, and permit lift arm 302 holding thereceptacle to move therethrough into the feedstock compartment.

Modifier 306 may physically alter the blend to render the blend unusableand unrecognizable in the manner described herein. For example, modifier306 may be a shredder that utilizes a high-speed cutting rotor and metalteeth, e.g., stainless steel, to pulverize and process the blend. Theshredder may be composed of strategically positioned stainless steelteeth on a rotating shaft that cuts against a stationary knife edge. Theshredder may include a synthetic material lining for preventingcorrosion of the metal teeth of the shredder. Moreover, mobile renderingvehicle 300 may include one or more guides 308, e.g., a compactor plateand/or a bridge-breaker, disposed within the feedstock compartment forguiding the blend towards the shredder. For example, a compactor platemay be used to guide/move the blend into the shredder on atwo-dimensional plane, and a bridge-breaker may be used to guide/movethe blend into the shredder on a three-dimensional plane, e.g., from topto bottom within the feedstock compartment. In addition, camera 322 maybe disposed within the feedstock compartment to capture image data ofthe shredder pulverizing the blend to ensure that the blend within thefeedstock compartment is properly moved into modifier 306.Alternatively, modifier 306 may be a compartment for physically alteringthe blend via saturation with a liquid as described above. For example,modifier 306 may receive the blend and apply a liquid to the blend torender the blend unrecognizable and unusable.

Payload compartment 312 may be sized and shaped to receive thepulverized blend from modifier 306, e.g., via gravity. In addition,auger 310 may be used to facilitate movement of the pulverized blendfrom modifier 306 to payload compartment 312. For example, auger 310 maybe a rotatable spiral structure that guides the pulverized blend topayload compartment 312 as auger 310 is rotated. In addition, camera 324may be disposed within payload compartment 312 to capture image data ofthe pulverized blend entering payload compartment 312 to ensure that theblend is properly pulverized. Alternatively or additionally, payloadcompartment 312 may have a reduced sized such that mobile renderingvehicle 300 further includes a cargo area for storage of containers andother equipment and supplies. The cargo area may have a side-mountedlift-gate for easy loading and unloading.

Optional liquid catch 314 and liquid storage compartment 316 may be usedto separate and store liquids present in the blend from modifier 306.For example, liquid catch 314 may be positioned underneath modifier 306,and formed of a mesh material having pores large enough to permit liquidto flow therethrough, but small enough to prevent particles of thepulverized blend from passing through. The liquid flowing through liquidcatch 314 will be directed to and stored within liquid storagecompartment 316. For example, liquid storage compartment 316 may be anonboard storage tank or an awaiting drum fluidly coupled to liquid catch314 via a hose.

Movable floor 318 may be, e.g., a conveyor belt, for moving thepulverized blend from payload compartment 312 out of mobile renderingvehicle 300. Accordingly, upon arrival at solid-waste facility, movablefloor 318, may push processed feedstock out of mobile rendering vehicle300. As shown in FIG. 3, cameras 320, 322, 324 may transmit image datato, e.g., a cloud-based server, via a wireless connection, e.g.,internet, WiFi or Bluetooth connection, for video sharing to ensureproper receipt and pulverization of the blend.

Referring now to FIG. 4, exemplary method 400 for renderingcannabis-related waste materials via mobile rendering vehicle 300 isdescribed. Some of the steps of method 400 may be further elaborated byreferring to FIGS. 5A to 5F. At step 402, a plurality ofcannabis-related waste materials may be inserted into mobile renderingvehicle 300 via lift arm 302 and infeed hopper 304 as described above.As shown in FIG. 5A, mobile rendering vehicle 300 may be transported toan onsite location at a licensed premise, e.g., lawful propertyused/owned by a licensed distributor of cannabis-related products havingcannabis-related waste materials to be disposed of.

Upon arrival, mobile rendering vehicle 300 may be parked in thedesignated Temporary Staging Area at the onsite location. Theuser/personnel may access the waste storage area at the onsite location,and a clear path of travel to the Temporary Staging Area. Theuser/personnel may then collect and relocate the receptacle bin(s)containing the cannabis-related waste materials from the waste storagearea to the Temporary Staging Area, in preparation for destruction. Thereceptacle may be engaged by lift arm 302 as shown in FIG. 5A. Theuser/personnel may operate mobile rendering vehicle 300 via controlpanel 301 and select, e.g., start/stop, infeed hopper speed, shredderspeed, and/or a preselected mode based on cannabis-related wastematerials type. As shown in FIG. 5B, upon actuation of mobile renderingvehicle 300 via control panel 301, lift arm 302 hoists the receptacleupward toward infeed hopper 304. FIG. 5C shows lift arm 302 moving thereceptacle into infeed hopper 304. The interior of the feedstockcompartment having modifier 306 therein for receiving thecannabis-related waste materials from the receptacle is shown in FIG.5D.

At step 404, the cannabis-related waste materials are physicallyaltered, e.g., pulverized via modifier 306, as shown for example in FIG.5E, until the cannabis-related waste materials are unrecognizable andunusable, as shown for example in FIG. 5F. Additionally oralternatively, the cannabis-related waste materials may be physicallyaltered prior to introduction into mobile rendering vehicle 300. Forexample, a solution, e.g., a dye, may be applied to the cannabis-relatedwaste materials to render it unrecognizable and unusable. Mobilerendering vehicle 300 may accept the unrecognizable and unusablecannabis-related waste materials for disposal.

In the example where mobile rendering vehicle 300 includes a shredder,compactor plate and/or bridge-breaker 308 may guide the cannabis-relatedwaste materials into the shredder. The cannabis-related waste materialsmay remain in the feedstock compartment and be pulverized by theshredder until it has reached a pre-specified particle size, e.g., smallenough to pass through a steel screen. Insertion of the cannabis-relatedwaste materials into mobile rendering vehicle 300 as well aspulverization of the cannabis-related waste materials via the shreddermay be recorded via strategically placed cameras, e.g., cameras 320,322, at step 406, which may occur simultaneously with steps 402 and 404.Moreover, as described above, additional cameras, e.g., camera 324, mayrecord additional parts of the rendering process such as when thepulverized cannabis-related waste materials enter payload compartment312 for verification that the cannabis-related waste materials have beenproperly pulverized. The image data recorded may be transmitted, e.g.,to a cloud-based server, for video sharing to ensure that thecannabis-related waste materials are properly received and pulverized bymobile rendering vehicle 300 to an unrecognizable and unusable state incompliance with local regulations.

After the cannabis-related waste materials are pulverized at the onsitelocation, mobile rendering vehicle 300 having the pulverizedcannabis-related waste materials stored therein may be transportedoffsite to another location different from the licensed premise fordisposal, and/or for further treatment as described above. For example,the pulverized cannabis-related waste materials may be transported to afacility where the pulverized cannabis-related waste materials areoffloaded from mobile rendering vehicle 300, e.g., via moving floor 318,and may be heated to sterilize/denature the pulverized cannabis-relatedwaste materials, have any remaining liquid evaporated therefrom, andcooled to form a refuse-derived fuel.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a sample Certificate of Destruction isdescribed. The user/personnel of the Transporter may generate aCertificate of Destruction documenting container/receptacle bininformation, as well as verifying any supporting documents provided bythe Client/Generator, e.g., a licensed distributor/retailer ofcannabis-related products having cannabis-related waste materials to bedisposed of. For example, the Certificate of Destruction may includeClient/Generator information including business name, address, contactname, phone number, email, a client ID number allocated to the specificClient/Generator by the Transporter, and the Client/Generator's licensenumber and type. The Client/Generator information may be entered, e.g.,via the graphical user interface of control panel 301 on an electronicfillable/printable form integrated with control panel 301, beforehand onan electronic fillable/printable form via a computing device, ormanually on a printed form at the onsite location. The Certificate ofDestruction further may include Transporter information, e.g., of theuser/personnel, including, for example, business name, address, contactname, phone number, email, the Transporter's license/permit number. TheTransporter information may be auto-populated beforehand, or filled outmanually at the onsite location.

Moreover, the Certificate of Destruction further may include Collectioninformation, e.g., information regarding the cannabis-related wastematerials to be disposed of. As shown in FIG. 6, the different types ofcannabis-related waste materials to be collected/pulverized may bereduced to an easily understood code, e.g., letter, and the decipher keymay be displayed on the Certificate of Destruction for efficientreference. For example, the Collection information codes may include M:post-manufactured biomass (extraction); R: refinement byproduct(winter/distill—fat, wax, terpene; C: cultivation plant material; G:grow medium (soil, coco, rock wool); E: edibles (bulk raw infused foodstuff); P: packaged product (non-compliant, defective, expired, retireddisplay); X: unpackaged product (flower, extract, pre-roll, tincture,topical); D: contaminated disposables (gloves, containers, utensils,wipes); WI: wastewater (run-off, reverse osmosis); U: universal waste(light bulbs, batteries, vape pens); O: other materials. As will beunderstood by a person ordinarily skilled in the art, differentcodes/letters may be used, and/or additional types of Collectioninformation may be utilized on the Certificate of Destruction.Accordingly, each container/receptacle bin of cannabis-related wastematerials collected at the onsite location may be allocated a numericalnumber, and for each container/receptacle bin, the coded letteridentifying the Collection information may be marked, e.g., circled. Asmany coded letters as necessary may be marked to accurately indicatewhat types of cannabis-related waste materials are present within thecontainer/receptacle bin. If “0” is marked indicating “other materials”are present in the cannabis-related waste materials, more informationregarding the materials may be inputted under “NOTES.”

Additionally, track, count, volume, and weight information for eachcontainer/receptacle bin may be provided. Accordingly, theuser/personnel may perform a visual assessment of thecontainer/receptacle bin and the contents therein to document volume andphysical description of the cannabis-related waste materials. Moreover,as described above, data indicative of the weight of thecannabis-related waste materials to be destructed/pulverized within eachcontainer/receptacle bin may be electronically received from anelectronic scale operatively coupled to lift arm 302, e.g., wirelesslyvia WiFi or Bluetooth technology, and automatically filled into theappropriate entry on the Certificate of Destruction. Alternatively oradditionally, the cannabis-related waste materials to bedestructed/pulverized may be weighed manually using a separate scale.

The sum/totals of all the containers/receptacle bins may be calculatedand inputted under the total, count, volume, weight section underneaththe NOTES section. Upon completion of the Certificate of Destruction,the Client/Generator as well as the user/personnel of the Transportermay print their name(s), sign, date, and time the Certificate ofDestruction. Additionally, the user/personnel of the Transporter mayinclude additional information including their driver license number,vehicle license plate number, and make and model of the vehicle, e.g.,the mobile rendering vehicle.

While various illustrative embodiments of the invention are describedabove, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications may be made therein without departing from theinvention. The appended claims are intended to cover all such changesand modifications that fall within the true scope of the invention.

What is claimed:
 1. A method for rendering cannabis-related waste, themethod comprising: obtaining cannabis waste materials; obtaining woodmaterials, the wood materials being non-cannabis material; blending thecannabis waste materials and the wood materials to form a blend suchthat the cannabis waste materials are unrecognizable and unusable; anddisposing the blend comprising the unrecognizable and unusable cannabiswaste materials and the wood materials.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the cannabis waste materials comprise cannabis plant materialshaving a level of contaminants rendering it unsuitable for compost. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the cannabis waste materials comprise atleast one of cannabis plant material, cannabis-infused products, mixedpackaging, manufacturing byproducts, grow medium, contaminateddisposables.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the cannabiswaste materials comprises receiving the cannabis waste materials at amobile rendering vehicle.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein blending thecannabis waste materials and the wood materials to form the blendfurther comprises shredding the cannabis waste materials and the woodmaterials using a shredder within the mobile rendering vehicle.
 6. Themethod of claim 4, wherein blending the cannabis waste materials and thewood materials to form the blend comprises blending the cannabis wastematerials and the wood materials onsite at a licensed premise.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, further comprising transporting the blend via themobile rendering vehicle offsite to another location different from thelicensed premise for disposal.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein thewood materials comprise at least one of wood shavings, wood chips, sawdust, bark, branches, limbs, trunks, stumps, heartwood, or sapwood. 9.The method of claim 1, wherein the wood material comprises a high Carboncontent.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein blending the cannabis wastematerials and the wood materials comprises blending equal parts of thecannabis waste materials and the wood materials or more of the woodmaterials than the cannabis waste materials.
 11. The method of claim 1,wherein blending the cannabis waste materials and the wood materialsfurther comprises pulverizing the cannabis waste materials and the woodmaterials such that the cannabis waste materials are unrecognizable andunusable.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein pulverizing the cannabiswaste materials and the wood materials comprises pulverizing thecannabis waste materials and the wood materials using a high speedrotor.
 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising grinding down thecannabis waste materials prior to blending the cannabis waste materialsand the wood materials.
 14. The method of claim 1, further comprisinggrinding down the wood materials prior to blending the cannabis wastematerials and the wood materials.
 15. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising removing liquid from the blend.
 16. The method of claim 1,further comprising wetting the blend with an amount of liquid sufficientto reduce or prevent dust release.
 17. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising heating the blend to at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit for anamount of time sufficient to sterilize and denature the blend.
 18. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising sterilizing the blend to removeany pathogens and biohazards from the blend.
 19. The method of claim 1,further comprising denaturing the blend to break down cannabinoids inthe blend.
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein the wood materialscomprise wood chips.
 21. The method of claim 1, wherein the woodmaterials consist of wood chips.
 22. The method of claim 1, wherein thewood materials comprise saw dust.
 23. The method of claim 1, wherein thewood materials consist of saw dust.